Meeting place was set at 2:00pm - my house in Pasig - We finally
got to leave at 2:30pm - Our plan was to navigate the flood
way via East Bank Road, and go towards East Ridge Golf Club
where I last saw some owls some years ago.

As we travelled the East Bank Road and got to see several
PACIFIC SWALLOWS, and as we turned into the Taytay-Angono
Coastal Hiway - we stopped at the mouth of the fllodway to
take a look at the WHISKERED TERNS both in the mature and
immature phases. (see figure 1.1, for map of our journey)

Turning right into the Manila East Hiway we proceeded towards
East Ridge - we navigated the very steep hills towards the
main gate. Stopping at the View deck (see fig. 1.2 - #1) -
it was an arduous climb for me - too many steps but I think
that Myckle, Annette and Jon enjoyed that little bit of exercise.

On we went to case out the other places - as we drove towards
the club house we came across a sign for "Fishing Area"
(see fig. 1.2 - #2). So we decided to take the trail - Myckle
parked the car and geared up. We got to see a pair of BUSHCHATS,
several LT SHRIKES, some WHITE-BREASTED WOOD SWALLOWS on the
way down... we even got to hear a CISTICOLA, and saw some
MUNIAS fly-by - in a clearing we saw a PYGMY SWIFTLET, a PEACEFUL
DOVE, and an unidentified ORIOLE (mostly because it flew into
the undergrowth before we could tell what it was), we heard
several other birds hiding in the forest area namely a SPOTTED
DOVE, and a GRASSBIRD. Myckle and Jon pointed out some LOWLAND
WHITE-EYES and an ARTIC WARBLER - suddenly a dark shap flew
over our area - a raptor! Unfortunately it was against the
sun and we couldn't tell what it was - there was even a tell-tale
shape of a parakeet - though we couldn't positively make out
what it was.

As we got to the fishing area's guard house (see fig. 1.2
- #3) - We talked to the guard to ask if he had seen any birds
in the area, and he said that in the late afternoon at dusk
ducks would fly in and land in the western end of the reservoir
so we decided to try our luck - we chose a nice shady spot
and sat down at the water's edge - we got to see a CINNAMON
BITTERN that was flushed out by our noisy chatter.... Myckle
decided to walk towards the fisherman's hut to see if he could
spot more birds (see fig. 1.2 - #4). While he was there, we
got to see a couple of COMMON KINGFISHERS, and a couple of
birds land - it took us some time before we identified them
to be a couple of immature BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON and one
sub-adult, and a DOVE flew towards the other side of the reservoir..

As we waited for Myckle we got to see a TAWNY GRASSBIRD, a
GREY WAGTAIL, a couple of WHITE-THROATED KINGFISHERs fishing
for fish - when Myckle came back he said that there was a
COMMON SANDPIPER, and a BLACK-NAPED ORIOLE (shucks). As we
prepared to leave, opting to try to get to the western side
of the reservoir - I got to see a large shape in the sky -
a raptor again! We identified it as a GREY-FACED BUZZARD (that
sure made my day!) Taking a last scan of the water - we even
got to see a couple of LITTLE HERONs make a touch down on
the water's edge.

We
then started out trek up the mountain for that's what it was.
Nearing the top we got to see some BROWN SHRIKES and a PIED
FANTAIL. When we got to the car and glugged down vast amounts
of water - we drove slowly towards the main gate with the
car's window's down to enjoy the scenery and the fresh air
we heard some weird sounds... stopping the car and getting
down we searched for the sounds.. we didn't know what they
were but we recorded on Annette's tape recorder 4 unknown
calls.

What
an interesting day... discussing our fortune we headed down
the mountain towards Valley Golf Club to pick up Jon's wife,
Cherie and their kid Jari (complete with Liza the nanny) -
and then we had a nice home cooked meal at my house, when
we separated ways it was a little past eight.